15-year-old a rising star on local lanes

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published
7:00 pm EST, Monday, January 28, 2008

This 15-year-old bowling prodigy has only been at the game sine he was 9 years old and is quickly making a name for himself. Over the last couple of weeks, Elliott has bowled scores of 634 (255-193-186) and 692 (259-247-186) to move himself into the top spot in the Brookfield Lanes Junior Program in nearly every category.

His 692 is the league high series and his career high, although he bowled a 698 during a "fun" week at Thanksgiving. His 255 is the league high game (he had a 289 during the "fun" week, also) and the two high sets moved him into the top spot in average with a 192. So right now, he is holding the "triple crown" for the league.

And young Elliott is more than just a star on the lanes. Off the lanes, he is following in dad, Mike's, footsteps by becoming involved in the administrative aspects of the game. He is the alternate representative for the Brookfield Youth on the Youth Committee of the Greater Danbury USBC Association Board of Directors, and GDUSBC President Stew Schilb invited him to represent the youth as a member of the Youth Committee on the State level.

And his involvement does not stop there. He is also going to assist Gary Grant, the proprietor of Keglers Korner Pro Shop at Brookfield Lanes, with the fitting of all bowling balls for the participants of the upcoming Ebonite Demo Day at Brookfield Lanes.

Away from bowling Elliott is a sophomore member of his high school's math team and has the rare ability to solve a Rubick's Cube blindfolded!

Elliott hopes to one day apply for the esteemed Earl Anthony Memorial Scholarship, an award his sister, Elyse, won in its inaugural year. He wants to go to Cornell University, also like his sister. He hopes to start competing in Junior Bowling Tournament competition on a regular basis -- during his first one he was the youngest bowler in the scratch division.

Elliott's future in bowling certainly looks bright, especially with mentors, like his dad and Gary Grant. To help insure that future, Elliott also invested time in the Dick Ritger bowling camp when he was just 12.

I would be sure to look for more from Elliott down the road. He has the talent to go a long way in this game.

And Elliott is not the only one bowling great these days. In the Brookfield program over the last several weeks, some of the kids have been lighting up the lanes. In the Junior Division, Cody Johnson had a 201 and Vinny DiBenedetto, another rising young star, put together games of 260-236-232 for an astounding 696 series.

The Singles Scratch, Queen's Scratch, and Princess Handicap Tournaments were all held last week at Brookfield Lanes.

The Singles Scratch resulted in a win for Will Eayrs III, who bowled a 1,251 for the five-game format. That's an average of 250.2 per game for the tournament. Will was followed in second place by Fred Foshay, who totaled 1,227 for his five games.

Overall, there were 45 entries, and the highlight of the tournament had to be the first-game 300s posted by both Foshay and Paul Viesto, who finished in 13th place. Viesto also had a 300 in the Moonshiners League two weeks ago.

In the Queens Tournament, Chris Alexsandrowicz topped the field with her 1,120 total. That's a 224 average for the five games. She was followed in second place by Monica Fitzgerald with a 1,095.

In the Princess Handicap Tournament, Janice Wildman outlasted all entrants by virtue of her 827 total for four games. She was followed in second place by Linda Sementilli, who posted an 816 total.

Congrats to all the winners and kudos to the Greater Danbury USBC Association for holding such great events.

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Congrats also to Fred Meyer, who bowled a 300 game in the Lore's First League at Lore's Lanes. Anna Davis posted a fine 695 set in the same league. And kudos also to Josh Latrell, who shot a 300 at Lores in the Lores Five Man Classic League.

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How would you like to see bowling back on network television? Well that's just what's scheduled to happen on May 10 as CBS will air Bowling's Clash of Champions on May 10 and May 11. It is a made for TV event and will mark the first time that bowling has hit network TV since June 26, 1999 when CBS aired the AC Delco All Star Classic. And it will be announced by none other than our good friend, Nelson Burton, Jr.

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One of our special guests at the Strike-a-thon this April will be Team USA member Shannon O'Keefe. And O'Keefe will be plying her bowling wares as one of the celebrities participating in the third annual Super Bowl NFL Charities/Strike Ten Celebrity Bowling Classic on Jan. 31 at Christown Lanes in Phoenix.

Shannon joins Chris Barnes and Sean Rash along with 40 NFL legends as they bowl for the Youth Education Town initiative, part of the NFL's commitment to make a positive impact on the host city of the Super Bowl.

Can't wait to meet Shannon when she comes to Brookfield Lanes.

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Best wishes to Ken Waterhouse III, who faces surgery on Wednesday for a brain tumor. We wish Ken the best with his health issues and we wish him a speedy recovery.